Kabocha Croquettes (Vegan, Soy-Free with a Gluten-Free Option)

So maybe you’re not looking for kabocha squash recipes – but you should be. Also known as Japanese pumpkin, this is like a velvet butternut squash and it is the squash you have been searching for your whole life. Creamy, sweet and easy to work with, you might find something similar to these croquettes served in Japanese restaurants called kabocha korokke. I’ve amped up the seasoning in mine and shallow fried them, rather than no special seasoning and deep frying.

Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and lay out kabocha wedges. Season with salt, cinnamon, sage, cayenne pepper and black pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Roast for around 40 minutes, or until the squash is soft and starting to caramelize. When the squash is nearly done, in a skillet over medium heat, allow the diced onions to sweat a little until they are translucent. Set the onions aside. Remove the squash from the oven and allow to cool enough so you can handle it and remove the peels. In a large bowl, mash the squash until it is smooth. Add the onions and garlic. Preheat the canola oil, in a large heavy bottomed skillet, over medium heat (to around 350 F). Using a spoon or a small scoop, form the mashed squash into balls. Roll the balls in the starch, then the unsweetened non-dairy milk and finally in the breadcrumbs. Fry each ball until they are golden brown on all sides, about 4 minutes. Remove from oil to a plate lined with paper towel. Serve warm with soy sauce (if you’re not allergic to soy, of course) or any other dipping sauce you like.

About

We here at The Leafy Cauldron believe food should be life affirming. We can do better! Started in 2011 as passion project to share a love of Harry Potter and vegan food, we've now branched out to focus on fun, fresh and innovative recipes that also happen to be allergy-friendly with zero compromise when it comes to taste and texture.

Dissatisfied with some common attitudes in vegan cooking, we decided to start a log of our own kitchen adventures. You’ll find fun and fresh recipes here presented in a to-the-point fashion. I promise to never, ever use the words “real food”.

If you're dealing with allergies and you're hoping to find a familiar recipe, let us know on Facebook and we'll try to help you out!

All cartoon artwork you see on the blog is made by the immensely talented Helen Bee Illustration!